Former President Bill Clinton visited Queens College last Thursday to discuss the importance of the upcoming election and show support for Queens Rep. Anthony Weiner's bid for the mayor's office.
"Folks, this is the future of America; this is it," said Clinton.
Clinton stressed the importance of voter turnout and said it is the people who make the real difference on Election Day.
"The best thing about America is not any of us. It's you," he said, to the crowd.
The "mess" the market is in and U.S. foreign relations are issues Clinton said the next president will have to deal with.
"Approximately two and a half million people will foreclose their houses next year," said Clinton. "You cannot grow an economy when two and half million people are losing their homes."
He said the next president has to make the financial system work for everybody, not just the rich.
Clinton praised Sen. Barack Obama's understanding of the economy and said Obama could improve "the quality of American life."
"Even though my first choice for president is not on the ticket, I think Barack Obama is the best choice for president," said Clinton, referring to Sen. Hillary Clinton's failed bid for the democratic nomination.
Health care was another issue Clinton talked about.
"There was a story in the newspaper last week," said Clinton. "One in every eight patients is not taking his medications because he cannot afford to buy them. Because of that, these people die early."
In many other countries, governments provide full health coverage for their citizens, while the American government doesn't even fully insure 16 percent of its people, Clinton added.
Prior to Clinton's appearance, Queens Rep. Anthony Weiner said, "If you think about it, this is a very similar type of moment to the one … we had then, when we voted for President Bill Clinton."
He said the main reason Americans should vote for Barack Obama is because he is surrounding himself with substantial brain power and talent, in terms of his cabinet choices.
"I had a lot of people that made me look like a genius in the White House," said Clinton, jokingly.
Clinton said Americans normally vote for a Democratic candidate when the country is in a ditch and they need a change and a fresh face to lead the way.
"We have an opportunity to wake up on Wednesday, Nov. 5, and read headlines that say 'Barack Obama, president of the United States,'" Weiner said.
In his speech, Clinton said Weiner is a man he has "great admiration" and "deep affection" for.
Clinton knows Weiner from his days as president when Weiner served on the City Council. Weiner also endorsed and campaigned for Hillary Clinton in her failed 2008 bid for the Democratic nomination.
"I just wish everyone in America could be represented by someone in Congress as intelligent, tough and committed to a middle-class future for all Americans," Clinton said about Weiner
Clinton called it an honor to return to a borough that had a "special place" in his heart. The Queens County Democratic Committee was the first to endorse his run for presidency.
Before the president was introduced, few assemblymen or councilmen urged people to vote this November.
City Councilman David Weprin spoke about how he voted against the bill that would give Mayor Michael Bloomberg the chance to run for a third term. Clinton did not take a position on the City Council's decision to allow Bloomberg to run for a third term, an election Bloomberg may face Weiner in.
This event, held in the Student Union's fourth-floor ballroom, began at 7:30 p.m., but Clinton was not set to speak until 9 p.m.
The event was free and open to the public, but not everyone was able get in.
"For a college event, it was insulting for them to let no more than 20 students in [at a time] and leave hundreds out in the cold," said Justin Rosenblum, senior at QC.
He said hundreds showed up as early as 5 p.m. to see the former president.
"Even those who started out near the front of the line failed to get in," said Rosenblum.
Rosenblum joined the line at about 5:25 p.m., but was turned away by organizers from Weiner's office at 8:15 p.m.
"The Weiner team didn't tell us [beforehand] we had no chance of getting in," Rosenblum said. "They simply let us wait out in the cold and then unceremoniously turned us away."
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